diff --git a/tests/_graphical_wait_login.pm b/tests/_graphical_wait_login.pm
index 27f22466..c7b04798 100644
--- a/tests/_graphical_wait_login.pm
+++ b/tests/_graphical_wait_login.pm
@@ -46,8 +46,10 @@ sub run {
         # GDM 3.24.1 dumps a cursor in the middle of the screen here...
         mouse_hide;
         if (get_var("DESKTOP") eq 'gnome') {
-            # we have to hit enter to get the password dialog
-            send_key "ret";
+            # we have to hit enter to get the password dialog, and it
+            # doesn't always work for some reason so just try it three
+            # times
+            send_key_until_needlematch("graphical_login_input", "ret", 3, 5);
         }
         assert_screen "graphical_login_input";
         # seems like we often double-type on aarch64 if we start right
diff --git a/tests/desktop_notifications.pm b/tests/desktop_notifications.pm
index 5934347d..296dc4f2 100644
--- a/tests/desktop_notifications.pm
+++ b/tests/desktop_notifications.pm
@@ -60,8 +60,10 @@ sub run {
         # GDM 3.24.1 dumps a cursor in the middle of the screen here...
         mouse_hide;
         if (get_var("DESKTOP") eq 'gnome') {
-            # we have to hit enter to get the password dialog
-            send_key "ret";
+            # we have to hit enter to get the password dialog, and it
+            # doesn't always work for some reason so just try it three
+            # times
+            send_key_until_needlematch("graphical_login_input", "ret", 3, 5);
         }
         assert_screen "graphical_login_input";
         type_very_safely get_var("USER_PASSWORD", "weakpassword");